They are aliens for the natives, they are not comfortable with the local language or with the culture and food. Yet, the country has become their adopted home and they love it.

For Priya, Rajini and Praveena engineering graduates from Karnataka's Manipal University, China has become their "home away from home" ever since they landed in this city eight months back while for Deng Lan  a former student of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, was her home for three years and she still considers India as her "adopted country".

"When we got the chance to come to China, there was hesitation, apprehension and a little fear. But when we finally arrived here, all vanished. It is a beautiful country and progressing very, very well. Besides, people are very warm and friendly," Priyadarshini C., who is an intern at Yunnan Sunpa Image Tel Tech Co Ltd along with her two colleagues, said.

Priya, a native of Chennai, said since language was a problem they started learning a few Chinese words through which they could communicate with the locals while dealing with day-to-day life.

The young ladies regularly frequent Kunming's central business district, shopping malls, movie theatres and parks for household goods, clothes, food and entertainment.

"Since Kunming is called China's spring city, lots of tourists come here. The stone forest, zoo and Dongfeng square are some of the attractions where we occasionally meet Indians too," G. Praveena, who hails from Hyderabad, said.

Though food was a problem for them initially, they soon found all the ingredients required for preparing their favourite south Indian dishes and also developed a taste for a few Chinese delicacies.

"We also easily get DVDs of Shahrukh Khan's [Images] movies like "Asoka" and "Mohabbatein" and Raj Kapur's classics as these are extremely popular among the Chinese," Saka Rajini, who also hails from Hyderabad, said.

Priya, Praveena and Rajini unanimously agree that China is a great country with an ancient culture, modern life and friendly people who hold India in high regard, and a place worth living for their whole lives.

"Given a chance I would love to live in China forever," said Praveena.

For Deng Lan, faculty member of the Institute for South Asian Studies in Kunming's Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences, the three years she spent in Delhi's JNU between

2002-05 while studying economics, was the most memorable period in her life.

"I remember every moment of my stay in Delhi. India is a fascinating country with great history, culture and people. I have fallen in love with the country," she said.

Deng, who stayed at JNU's Yamuna hostel, was a frequent visitor to South Delhi's Priya Complex, Dilli Haat, Janpath and Connaught Place for films, food and fun.

"The handicrafts available at Dilli Haat and Janpath are amazing. I also love the kind of Chinese food available in India. It is a kind of Punjabi-Chinese mix," she said with a laugh.

Deng still keeps in touch with her many Indian friends and stays updated on Indian news and developments through newspapers, magazines and the Internet. "I would love to visit India again and again," she said.